To the sea

To the beach house that my in law’s keep in mint condition even if they come so seldom.

Minty in all it’s late 70’s splendour.

The house would be perfect to shoot a movie happening in, let’s say, 1978.

You don’t need to change anything. Furniture, wall art, and even dishes

This particular poster never fails to give me nausea

A house I’ve been coming to since 1996 and that always allows me to rest and relax.

More than any home I’ve ever lived in.

Many times I’ve fantasized about living here.

Many times we play with decoration ideas although it’d be a shame to alter its retro ambiance :-D

This time I haven’t brought any art supplies. Just a couple of books.

I’m spending a lot of time watching the children. Interacting with them without any agenda or to do list.

P. and I like to walk on the nearby little forest, Maybe even more than going to the beach.

From time to time P throws the bomb. He’s always thinking of taking off again.

Those times, my heart shrinks and invariably my eyes get very wet.

Gifts

The green countryside...

A pink house.

Dozens and hundreds of birds go to sleep as soon as the sun sets.

Four hummingbirds working incessantly during the day around a spontaneous "Christmas Tree". And many times they sit on little branches. A massive dose of hummingbird watching made me very happy.

Friends so smart and wise will help you untangle any heart knots.

Food for the Body

And for the Spirit. (Spirit feeds from attention :-)

An awesome storm at night, with many horizontal lightning bolts. And power outage to make it more perfect and complete

I Ching reading and the last of the sun.

We have gifts and treasures within. They're with us from birth.  We don't need any money, drugs or government permission to use them. They're available and waiting to be deeply enjoyed.  Body and mind. Muscles, glands and thoughts. Attention and relaxation. Creative thinking. Breathing and voice. Your good Heart...and many more!

Just because of that, every day on Earth is a gift and a possibility.

Even a bad day. Even those days when ants eat your baby leaves and 47 envelopes are lost in the mail!

End of elementary school

mensch

A mensch is a someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character. The key to being "a real mensch" is nothing less than character, rectitude, dignity, a sense of what is right, responsible, decorous. (Rosten, Leo. 1968. The Joys of Yiddish. New York: Pocket Books. 237)

Cut and Paint

If you tend to get bored at extended family gatherings, or other kind of social interactions take with you a print of an image you love, an X-acto knife, and a self healing mat...and cut

Cut, cut, cut cut....

Be polite, act engaged do what you have to do and meanwhile cut, cut cut....

You'll be a little less bored and you'll end up with beautiful stencils that you can use over and over for painting

And then paint like crazy on the kitchen counter while you make dinner

Over weeks and months

And don't worry about like or blah! :-D

Lemon Report

Life gave me lemons and I give you the lemon report.

Remember this one from about a month ago?

After a month or so, check this out:

Literally "branched out" didn't it? This is a serious candidate to become my next lemon tree. We'll see...

Remember the lemon seeds a month ago?

A few little indians showing up to my delight. 

Even a vigorous tree starts very small and tender :)

And these already coming up:

In about six months they'll be ready.

How to preserve the many lemons that are falling off the tree to be used over the next months?

Squeeze and Freeze! Lemon ice cubes.

I'd heard much about the "oils in lemon". Manipulating these cubes I've noticed how oily they are. Surprising!

How to walk

The crafty lifestyle is usually most enjoyable but it has its stressful moments as well :) This is one of those times and I should have planned for this time better! I totally should. It's a lesson I've already learned but this year I forgot. So lesson remembered: Get more help than you think you need :) And everybody is going to be happier for that. 

I'm a hard worker and tend to think that I can do everything, but the work marathon doesn't fit well with end of school, end of ELEMENTARY school and a travelling dad.

Most days I still walk in the morning. After I drop the kids at school and before work, I go by the river and I walk.

Walk

Walk

Stop: Ceibo. National Tree :)

Ceibo and Flags  :-o

Walk

Walk

 Stop! Jacarandá!

Walk

Stop! Tipa

And walk!

One hour

7000 steps

Feels good

Well done hippie! Repeat tomorrow :-)